Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program

Mission:

The TRiO Ronald McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program at Eastern Washington University prepares low-income, first-generation and/or underrepresented minority undergraduates for success in doctoral programs by providing scholarly activities and community engagement that empowers participants to become agents of positive change in a culturally diverse world.

You may be eligible, if you:

Demonstrate strong academic potential and a desire to earn a PhD

Have sophomore standing or above and have one year remeining at EWU

Have earned at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in your major field

US Citizen or Permanent Resident

Are a first-generation college student from a low-income background or belong to a group underrepresented in doctoral studies (African-Americans, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders)

If you meet the above requirements, please make an appointment with Dr. Christina Torres Garcia by email cgarcia1@ewu.edu

Eastern's McNair program provides opportunities for:

Summer research internship with a university faculty mentor whose research interests match those of the McNair student.

Access to professional McNair staff dedicated to supporting scholar success.

Membership in nationwide TRiO McNair network.

Presenting McNair research at Eastern's annual Graduate and Undergraduate Research & Creative Works Symposium, as well as the possibility of presenting at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) or other national conferences.

"McNair helped me break down my personal barriers of self-doubt, which haunts all first-generation and low-income students. McNair provided the guidance in application, personal support during my academic journey, and celebration when I finished both my Master's in Biology (EWU) and Doctorate in Anthropology (WSU)." - Kerensa Allison, PhD (EWU TRiO McNair 1996)

McNair Seminars and advising services that focus on:

Application to graduate school

Research, writing, and presentation skills

Preparation for the Graduate Record Examination

McNair Research Internship Opportunities:

All selected EWU TRiO McNair scholars become part of the McNair community with faculty research mentors and staff dedicated to their success. Scholars participate in research internships with faculty mentors in their majors, and the McNair project provides a stipend up to $2,800 for the research internship. Scholars also earn up to 12 summer quarter credits for the internship project (with no tuition fee).

EWU TRiO McNair also provides workshops on:

Research and writing skills

Assistance with identifying goals and creating plans to achieve them

Support throughout the graduate school application process

During the graduate application process, emphasis is placed on providing scholars with financial resources and support available to graduate students. EWU McNair Scholars have been awarded competitive teaching, research and graduate assistantships in graduate programs around the country, as well as fellowships such as the prestigious Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship.

About McNair

The first McNair programs were funded by Congress in 1989 by grants through the Department of Education, and pay tribute to Ronald E. McNair, PhD, crewmenber on the space shuttle Challenger. The McNair Program at Eastern Washington University began in the 1995-96 academic year. As one of eight federally-funded TRiO programs, the goal of the McNair Program is to increase the attainment of PhD degrees by students from underrepresented segments of society.

About TRiO

The Federal TRIO Programs (TRiO) are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.